Deputy Collector Rank File
THE GREAT INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT
The most important events during Lord Dufferin’s
Period (1884-1888) were the third Anglo Burmese
War (1885-86) and the establishment of the first All
India organisation, the Indian National Congress.
The INC was founded in December 28, 1885 at the
Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay.
72 delegates participated in the first session of the
INC in Bombay.
It was founded by A.O. Hume a retired Civil Servant.
W.C. Banerjee was the first president of INC.
The Indian Association of S.N. Banerjee and Anand
Mohan Bose, organised an All Indian National Conference
in 1883 December. They had given a call for
another conference in 1885.
‘Congress’ means assembly of the people.
The name Congress was suggested to the
organisation by Dadabhai Naoroji.
Dadabhai Naoroji founded the East Indian Association
in 1866.
A.O. Hume was the General Secretary of INC till
1892.
The Second Session of the INC met at Calcutta in
December 1886, under the presidentship of
Dadabhai Naoroji.
The period from 1885 to 1905 is known as the Moderate
Phase of Indian National Congress. Prominent
leaders of this phase were Dadabhai Naoroji,
Badruddin Tyabji, Pheroz Shah Mehta,
Surendranath Banerjee, Gopalakrishna Gokhale etc.
‘‘We do not ask favours, we only want justice’’,
these were the words of Dadabhai Naoroji.
Dadabhai Naoroji is the author of the book ‘‘Poverty
and UnBritish Rule in India’’ which contains
the famous ‘‘drain theory’’.
Dadabhai Naoroji is known as ‘‘The Grand Old
Man of India’’. He was the first Indian to become a
member of the House of Commons on the Liberal
Party ticket. He became the president of INC thrice,
in 1886, 1893 and 1906. He founded ‘Gyan Prakash
Mandali’ and Bombay Association in 1852. He is
also known as ‘Father of Indian Economics and
Politics’.
Badruddin Tyabji was the first Indian barrister at
Bombay High Court. He was the first Muslim president
of INC. He became the third president of INC
in Madras session in 1887.
Pherozeshah Mehta founded the Bombay
chronicle in 1913.
S.N. Banarjee founded the Indian Association in
1876. He was the first President of Indian National
Liberal Federation (1918).
Gopalakrishna Gokhale founded the ‘Servants of
India Society in 1905.
Jawaharlal Nehru observed the Early Congress
to be ‘‘an English knowing upper class affair’’.
George Yule was the first foreigner to become the
President of INC. (1888, Allahabad).
Gopala Krishna Gokhale was populary known as
the ‘Socrates of Maharahstra’. M.G. Ranade was
the political guru of Gokhale.
Gokhale is considered as the political guru of
Gandhiji.
Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman to become
the president of Indian National Congress
(1925 Kanpur session)
Nellin Sengupta became the third woman President
of INC, 1933 at the Calcutta Session.
The word Swaraj was first used in the Calcutta
session in1906.
First joint session of Congress and Muslim League
was held at Lucknow 1916.
Only session presided over by Gandhi - Belgaum
(1924)
The year 1888 became birth year of Sarveppalli.
S. Radhakrishnan, the philosopher and second
president of India; C.V. Raman, the Nobel Prize
winner in Physics, Abdul Kalam Azad, the
freedom fighter; Romesh Chandra Majumdar, the
renowned historian and Acharya J.B. Kripalini,
the renowned freedom fighter.
‘Complete independence’ was demanded for the
first time (1929) in the Lahore session.
For the first time National Song was sung in the
Calcutta session (1896) of INC ie Vande Mataram.
During the Nagpur session 1891, the word ‘National’
was added to congress.
In the Lucknow session of the Congress (1916) the
two factions of congress (extremists and moderates)
reunited.
During the special session of the congress in
Calcutta (1920), Gandhi proposed to start Non-
Co operation Movement.
During the Delhi session (1923) Indian National
Congress decided to establish All India Khadi
Board.
During the Guwahati session of INC (1926) wearing
Khadi was made compulsory to its workers.
During the Madras session (1908) its constitution
was formed.
In Madras session of the INC (1927), proposals for
independence and to boycott Simon Commission
were passed
During the Karachi session (1931), Fundamental
Rights and Economic Policy proposals were
passed.
The 1938 session of Congress was held in a village
Haripura.
In the Ramagarh session (1940), decision was taken
on Individual Satyagraha.
During the Tripura session (1939), Subash Chandra
Bose defeated Pattabhi Sitaramayya (Gandhi’s candidate
in presidential election) but later resigned
and Rajendra Prasad became the president.
During Calcutta session (1928), first All India Youth
Congress was established.
Aurobindo Ghosh published New Lamps For Old.
It was the first systematic critic of the Moderates.
The radical wing of the INC that emerged at the
end of the 19th century is referred to as the Extremist
Group.
The main leaders of the Extremist Group were Lala
Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, B.C. Pal and
Aurobindo Ghosh.
Tilak asserted Swaraj is my birthright and I shall
have it.
Tilak started two newspapers the Maratha in English
and the Kesari in Marathi. He started Sivaji
festival to stimulate nationalism.
Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal on 20th July, 1905
as a part of the ‘Divide and Rule Policy’.
Rabindra Nath Tagore composed ‘Amer Sona
Bengla’ as a part of anti partition movement, which
later became the National Anthem of Bangladesh.
Boycott of British products was first suggested
by Krishna Kumar Mitra in Sanjivani.
The Swadeshi Movement was started in 1905.
‘Charka’ (spinning wheel) came to typify the popular
concern for country’s economic self sufficiency.
Swadesh Bandhav Samiti of Barisal founded by
Ashwini Dutt was the largest Volunteer body to
support Swadeshi Movement.
First real labour union - The Printers Union was
formed on October 1905.
Vande Mataram Movement was started by Bipin
Chandra Pal in Madras
Tilak began the Swadesh Vastra Pracharini Sabha
to propagate Swadeshi Movement.
Savarkar founded ‘Mitra mela’.
Chakravarthi Viraraghavacharya was the first Indian
leader to undergo imprisonment in 1882. He
was an extremist leader. He was the first Indian to
draft a Swaraj constitution for India which was presented
at the Madras session in 1927.
First Congress leader to suffer severe terms of imprisonment
for the sake of the country was Bal
Gangadhar Tilak.
Tilak wrote ‘Gita Rahasya’.
Bipin Chandrapal started an English weekly New
India.
Bipin Chandrapal was the founder editor of English
daily ‘Bande Mataram’ in 1906.
Lala Lajpat Rai is popularly known as Sher-e-
Punjab (Lion of Punjab). He founded and edited
‘‘The Punjabee’’ and the English weekly ‘‘The
people’’.
The Bengali daily Yugantar was started by
Aurobindo Ghosh. He also started weeklies
‘Karma Yogin’ and ‘Dharma’.
Indian Council Act 1892 was passed. The Principle
of indirect elections was first introduced by the
British. It give council members right of financial
discussion and interpolation. But popularly elected
representatives entered the legislatures only in 1909.
Deputy Collector Rank File
Swami Vivekananda attended the World
Parliament of Religions at Chicago . His soul -
stirring speech was delivered on Sept. 19, 1893.
He was branded as “Cyclonic Hindu.”.
Eligin II’s government arrested Bala Gangadhar
Tilak for the first time on July 27, 1897 to eighteen
months rigorous imprisonment for publication of
poem entitled “Shivaji’s Litterances” in ‘Kesari’
magazine of June 15, 1897.
Lord Curzon (Jan. 1899 to Nov. 1905) created the
North West frontier Province (now in Pakistan).
Gandhiji started British Indian Association in
Transwal in South Africa in 1903.
Gopala Krishna Gokhala founded the Servants of
India Society, the first secular organisation for
the welfare of the deprived rural and tribal people.
In 1902 Curzon created the Andrew Fraser
Commission to make reforms in selection, training
and recruitment in Police Department.
Curzon’s relation with the Congress and Indians
was strained owing to the changes he introduced
in the Calcutta Municipal Corporation (1899),
the Universities Act (1904) and the Partition of
Bengal (1905). The Calcutta Municipal
Corporation recognized the Municipal
Corporation of Calcutta, reduced the number of
the educated Indians and gave more
representation to the Calcutta European Mercantile
Group.
The Formation of the Muslim League (1906)
All India Muslim League was founded under the Leadership of Aga Khan to divert th e Muslims from
the National Political Movement. On December 30th Nawab Salimulla Khan of Dhaka became its first
President.
Muhammed Iqbal, who presided over the Allah abad session of the League in 1930 gave the idea of
Separate Muslim State in North West India. Hence Iqbal is known as the father of the idea of Pakistan.
But the name ‘Pakistan’ was coined by Rahmat Ali.
Mohammed Ali Jinnah gave his famous ‘Two Nation Theor y’ in March 1940, at the Lah ore session of
the Muslim League.
Sarojini Naidu called Jinnah, the Prophet of Hindu-Muslim Unity.
Later Jinnah became the fir st Governor Gen er al of Pakistan . He is known as the father of Pakistan
Surat Split (1907)
The clash between the Moderates and Extremists
culminated in a split which occurred at Surat in
1907.
Dr. Rash Bihari Ghosh was the INC President during
the Surat Split.
After the Surat Split the congress remained under
the control of the Moderates.
Minto-Morley Reforms of 1909
The Minto Morley Reforms for the first time tried
to introduce communal representation (for muslims)
under which Muslims could only vote for Muslim
candidates.
The real purpose of the reforms of 1909 was to
confuse the Moderate nationalists and to check
the growth of unity among Indians.
Rabindra Nath Tagore published Gitanjali, a
collection of poems, and got Nobel Prize in 1912
for this book.
Partition of Bengal
The decision on the Partition of Bengal was
ann oun ced on 19 July 1905 by then Viceroy
of India, Lord Curzon.
The province of Benga l and Assam came into
bein g on October 16 1905.
Due to t he h ig h l evel of political unrest
generated by the partition , the eastern and
western parts of Bengal were reunited in 1911.
In 1912 the capital of India was officially shifted
from Calcutta to old Delhi on April 1. Lord
Hardings entered New Delhi mounted on a tusker
in Dec. 24, 1912 and was wounded by a bomb.
The Ghadar Movement was initiated on Nov.1,
1913 at San Francisco by Indian immigrants under
the leadership of Tarak Nath Das to enlist support
from the west to the Indian National movement.
On Nov. 13, 1913 Rabindranath Tagore got the
Nobel Prize for literature (the first Asian to get
the Nobel Prize) for his work Gitanjali (Gitanjali or
song of Offerings was written on the death of his
wife and three children)
On March 28, 1914 The Komagate Maru, sailed
from Hong Kong to Vancouver with 351 Sikhs and
21 Punjabi Muslim youths under the leadership
of Gurjeeth Singh, as a part of Ghadar Movement.
On Jan 1, 1915 Gandhiji was awarded Kaiser-i-
Hind Gold Medal by the British Govt. for his
services in South Africa for war efforts, He
surrendered the award on August, 1920.
Gopalakrishna Gokhale died on Feb. 19, 1915.
The Defence of India Act was passed on March 18,
1915.
The revolutionary youth Ras Behari Bose bade
adieu to India on May 12, 1915 on board the
Japanese ship Sanukimaru for Japan under the
assumed name P.N. Tagore.
Rabindranath Tagore got the knighthood (Sir
title) from the British govt. on June 3, 1915. He
relinquished it in 1919 after the Jallianwallah Bagh
massacre.
Harding’s period witnessed the death of Jatin
Mukherji (Bagha Jain) the Bengal revolutionary.
Home Rule M ovement (1916)
Home Rule Movement was star ted by Annie
Besant and Tilak in 1916. Annie Besant was th e
first woman pr esident of INC (1917, Calcutta Session).
Self government for India in British Empire and
wor k for na tional education, social and political
r eform etc were the aims of Home Rule League.
Annie Besan t set up the n ewspapers -New India,
Common Weal.
Vishnu Gopal Pingle was hanged on Nov.17, 1915
in Talegaon Prison, Pune, for organising a rebellion
among the Indian Army.
The Provisional Govt. of India was established in
Kabul in exile with Raja Mahendra Prathap as its
head.
Gandhiji founded the Satyagraha Asramam ,
Ahmedabad, on the Sabarmathi river popularly
known as Sabarmathi Ashram.
The Banaras Hindu University was opened in 1916
under the guidance of Pt. Madan Mohan
Malaviya.
Lucknow Pact
The Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress
in 1916 marked the reunion of the Moderates
and Extremists together at Lucknow in 1916.
The Lucknow pact was executed between the Congress
and Muslim League in 1916.
The congress accepted the separate electorates
and both organisations jointly demanded dominion
status for the country.
Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
The peasants in this region were forced to cultivate
indigo at the prices decided by the British.
This system was known as Tinkathia system.
Gandhiji’s first Satyagraha in India was the
Champaran in August 18, 1917.
Montague-Chelmsford Reforms
It is also known as the Government of India
Act of 1919.
The Montague - Chelmsford Reforms was
published on July 8, 1918.
In 1918, Edwin Montague, the Secretary of
State and Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy produced
their scheme of constitutional reforms
which led to the enactment of the Government
of India Act of 1919.
The Montague Chelmsford reforms introduced
dyarchy (dual form of government) in
the provinces.
Provincial subjects were divided into ‘Reserved
subjects’ and ‘‘Transferred Subjects’’.
Central legislature was made bicameral by this
reform.
Deputy Collector Rank File
1917 August Declaration; the govt. promised the
gradual establishment of a responsible govt. in
India.
Rowlatt Act
The Rowlatt Act was a law passed by the British
in colonial India in March 1919.
The Act enacted during the First World War in
order to control public unrest and root out
conspiracy.
This act effectively authorized the government to
imprison, without trial, any person suspected of
terrorism.
British judge Sir Sidney Rowlatt, was the chairman
of Rowlatt Commission.
On March 1, 1919 Gandhiji announced his desire
to start ‘Satyagraha’ against the proposed Rowlatt
Act meant to Curb Civil and Political Liberties.
The date for the first country wide Hartal was fixed
on March 30 and then shifted to April 6, 1919.
Smt. Nanibala Debi, a widow of Bengal was
arrested for giving shelter to revolutionaries who
waylaid Mauser pistols of Rodda and Company
in 1914 she was India’s first female political
prisoner.
Jallianwala Bagh M assacre
In 1919, Rowlatt Act, which authorised the government to detain any person without tr ial was passed.
The Act was passed during the period of Lord Ch elmsford.
The official name of the Rowlatt Act was the Anarchica l and Revolutionar y Crimes Act (1919).
Sir Sydney Rowlatt was the president of the committee to make proposals for t he Act.
Gandhiji set up ‘Rowlatt Committee’ to protest this act.
Th e pr otest agai nst t his ‘Black Act’ was the strongest in Punjab wh ere it led to the Ma ssacre at
‘Jalianwala Bagh’ Amritsar on Apr il 13, 1919. It was on a Baishaki day. The Br i tish Officer General
Dyer ordered his troops to open fire at unarmed gathering, who were gathered there to protest against
the arr est of their popular leaders Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew an d Dr. Satyapal.
On this occasion, Tagor e renoun ced his Knighth ood in protest.
Michael O’Dyer Govern or of the Punjab provin ce supported the incident and on March 15, Martial
law was declared.
Gandhiji r enounced the ‘Kaiser-i-Hind’ medal given to him for his work during the Boer War.
Hunter Committee was appointed to enquire into the Jallianwalla Massacre (1920)
Hunter Commissions report was described by Gandhiji as a ‘white wash’.
The English House of Lords presented a jewelled sword to General in which was inscribed ‘‘sav iour of
the Punjab’’.
Chelmsford’s era witnessed the great influenza
epidemic which affected 5 million Indians.
The Madras Labour Union (Ist in India) was
organised by B.P. Wadia in 1918.
M.N. Roy established the Communist Party in
Mexico.
Communist Party of India was formed at Tashkent
on Oct.17, 1920 with seven members including
M.N. Roy, Birendra Chatopadhyaya and Abani
Mukherji.
Khilafat Movement (1919)
The main object of the Khilafat Movement was to
force the British Government to change its attitude
towards Turkey and restore the Turkish Sultan
(Khalifa) to his former position.
A Khilafat committee was formed under the leadership
of Ali brothers, Maulana Azad, Hakim Ajmal
khan, and Hasrat Mohani.
The Khilafat Movement lost its relevance due to
the reforms of Mustafa Kamal Pasha in Turkey.
Pasha abolished Khilafat and made Turkey a secular
state.
On 1 June 1920 the Khilafat Committee at Allahabad
unanimously accepted Gandhi’s suggestion of non
co-operation and asked him to lead the Movement.
Non-Co-operation Movement (1920)
Non Co-operation Movement was started with the aim of the annulment of the Rowlatt Act, and
correcting the ‘Punjab wrong’ changing the ‘Khilafat wrong’ as well as moving towards the
cherished goal of ‘swaraj’.
It was the first mass based political movement under Gandhiji.
The movement was launched as per the resolution of Calcutta session and ratified in Nagpur
session in December 1920.
The main emphasis of the movement was on boycott of schools, colleges, law courts and advocacy
of the use of charka.
The whole movement was called off on 11th February 1922 at Gandhiji’s insistence following the
news of burning alive of 22 English policemen by the angry peasants at ChauriChaura (Chauri
Chaura Incident) in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh on 5th February 1922.
The Non Co-operation Movement converted the national movement into a mass movement . It
strengthened Hindu - Muslim unity.
Simon Commission
In November 1927, the British Government appointed
the Indian Statutory Commission, popularly
known as Simon Commission, to report on
the working of the Act of 1919 and to suggest
further changes in the direction of responsible
government.
The Congress passed a resolution to boycott the
Simon Commission at its Madras session 1927.
The Madras session 1927 was presided over by
Dr. Ansari.
The Simon Commission paid two visits to India
(Feb.- March 1928 and Oct. 1928 - April 1929);
published its report on May 27, 1930 .
The day Simon landed at Mumbai ; 3 February
1928 all the major cities and towns observed a
complete hartal.
On the arrival of the Commission in Mumbai in
1928, it met with the slogan ‘‘Simon Go back’’.
There were seven members in the Simon Commission.
but no Indian - Four conservative members,
two Labourites and one liberal; an all White
Commission.
Lala Lajpat Rai was severely wounded in a police
lathi charge and died while protesting against
the Commission.
To avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat
Singh shot dead General Saunders.
On Feb. 12, 1928 Gandhiji had decided to resume
‘ Satyagraha’ in Bardoli which was abandoned
after Chauri - Chaura Massacre, this Satyagraha
was led by Vallabai Patel and Abbas Tyabji. Vallabhai
Patel was honoured with the popular title
“Sardar”.
The Nehru Report , 1928 August, officially called
“Report of the Committee by the All - Parties
Conference to determine the Principles of the
Constitution of India” was comprised of Seven
Chapters, two schedules and three appendices.
Chapter seven, comprising 24 pages in print
entitled ‘Recommendations” contains the broad
outlines of the constitutional frame work.
Back ground of the Nehru Report. In response
to the resolution of the Madras Session of the
Congress in Dec. 1927, all the parties Conference
was Convened at Delhi on 12 Feb. 1928.
Representatives of 29 organisation attended. On
19th May 1928 the Committee of All Parties
conference adopted a resolution to make Motilal
Nehru the chairman to consider and determine the
Principles of the Constitution of India.
Some major recommendation of the Nehru Report
were (a) Dominion Status to India. (b) Freedom of
conciouseness, Professing and practice of one’s
religion. (c) the lower houses in the centre and
provincial legislature consists of members elected
by joint mixed electorates with reservation of seats
to the Muslims (d) adult universal suffrage and
(e) Fundamental Rights.
Muslim League led by Mohammed Ali Jinnah
finally rejected Nehru Report and submitted the
14 points of Jinnah on 28 March 1929.
Deputy Collector Rank File
Events/Acts/Reforms Viceroy/Governor Generals
Permanent Settlement (1793) ......................................................................................................... Lord Cornwallis
Subsidiary Alliance (1798) .............................................................................................................. Lord Wellesley
Abolition of Sati (1829) ........................................................................................................... Lord William Bentinck
Introduction of Civil service ............................................................................................................. Lord Cornwallis
Doctrine of Lapse .......................................................................................................................... Lord Dalhousie
Railways started in India ................................................................................................................ Lord Dalhousie
Post and Telegraph ....................................................................................................................... Lord Dalhousie
English Education in India ...................................................................................................... Lord William Bentinck
Vernacular Press Act (1878) ................................................................................................................ Lord Lytton
Arms Act (1878) .................................................................................................................................. Lord Lytton
Local Self Government (1882) .............................................................................................................Lord Rippon
Ryotwari System ................................................................................................................................ Lord Munro
Partition of Bengal (1905)................................................................................................................... Lord Curzon
Rowlatt Act (1919) ........................................................................................................................ Lord Chelmsford
Sepoy Mutiny (1857) ....................................................................................................................... Lord Canning
Queens Proclamation (1858)............................................................................................................. Lord Canning
Factory Act (1881)............................................................................................................................... Lord Ripon
Repeal of Vernacular Press Act (1881) ................................................................................................ Lord Rippon
Indian councils Act/Minto -Morley Reforms (1909) ................................................................................. Lord Minto II
Partition of Bengal revoked (1911) ................................................................................................. Lord Hardinge II
Transfer Capital to Delhi (1911) .....................................................................................................Lord Hardinge II
Dyarchy in province (1919) ..........................................................................................................Lord Chelmsford
Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy (1919) ................................................................................................. Lord Chelmsford
Non co-operation ......................................................................................................................... Lord Chelmsford
Simon Commission (1928) ..................................................................................................... Lord William Bentinck
Poorna Swaraj resolution (Lahore 1929) ................................................................................................ Lord Irwin
Frist Round Table Conference (1930) .................................................................................................... Lord Irwin
2nd Round Table Conference(1931) ...................................................................................................... Lord Wellington
Gandhi Irwin Pact (1931) ....................................................................................................................... Lord Irwin
Communal Award (1932) ............................................................................................................... Lord Wellington
Poona Pact (1932) ........................................................................................................................ Lord Wellington
3rd Round Table Conference (1932) ...................................................................................................... Lord Wellington
Separate Electorates (1932) .......................................................................................................... Lord Wellington
Government of India Act (1935) ...................................................................................................... Lord Wellington
Provincial Autonomy (1937) ............................................................................................................ Lord Linlithgow
Cripps Mission (1942) .................................................................................................................... Lord Linlithgow
Quit India Movement ....................................................................................................................... Lord Linlithgow
Cabinet Mission (1946) ....................................................................................................................... Lord Wavell
INA Trial (1945) ................................................................................................................................. Lord Wavell
Indian Independence Act (1947) ......................................................................................................... Lord Mountbatten
Partition of India (1947) ............................................................................................................... Lord Mountbatten
Peasant Movements
Indigo Revolt - 1860
The revolt was directed against the British Planters
who behaved like Feudal Lords in their estates.
They used ruthless and arbitrary methods to force
peasants to grow indigo on a part of the fields in
Eastern India.
It began at Govindpur village in Nadia and was led
by Digambar Bishwas and Bishnu Bishwas.
Din Bandu Mitra’s novel Neel Darpan protrayed
this struggle.
This is the first strike of the Indian peasants with
successful results.
Indian Working Class
AITUC was formed on 31st October 1920 with Lala
Lajpat Rai as its first President and Dewan Chaman
Lal as its General Secretary.
Government appointed the Royal Commission on
Labour in 1929.
Trade Union Movement in India
First Textile Mill : Bombay (1853)
First Jute Mill at Rishra in Bengal (1855)
First Factory Act was passed in 1881.
First Industrial Commission was appointed in 1875.
The first real labour union was formed in October
1901 in Calcutta called the Printers Union.
The Madras Labour Union was the first
organisation with regular membership and was
started by G. Ramanujalu Naidu, G. Challapathi and
“Jana Gana Mana..... ...... .” India’s Na tional
Anthem, was first sun g on Dec. 27, 1911 at th e
Indian National Congr ess Session at Calcatta.
(Jana Gana Mana....... was adopted as the National
Anth em of In dia on J an 24, 1950 ; Vande
Matharam ........ was adopted as the National song
with the same status of Jana Gana Mana. Herbert
Murril’s orchestra tune of National Anthem was
accepted after an intern ational competition.)
was presided over by B.P. Wadia in 1918.
The All India Trade Union Congress was founded
in 1920. The Indian National Congress President
of the year was elected as its President.
The Trade Union Act of 1926 organised trade
unions as legal associations.
In 1929, All India Trade Union Federation was
formed under the leadership of NM Joshi.
The Congress Socialist Party was founded in 1934.
In 1944, national leaders led by Sardar Patel organised
the Indian National Trade Union Congress.
Swaraj Party (1923)
C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru resigned from congress
on 31 December 1922 and founded the Swaraj
Party on 1st January 1923.
Its early name was Congress Khilafat Swaraj Party.
C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru were the first president
and Secretary respectively of the Swaraj Party.
C.R. Das gave the slogan ‘Enter the Council’
Swaraj Party was formed at Allahabad.
In 1924, when Gandhi came out of Jail he supported
the programme of Swaraj Party.
Chauri-Chaura Incident
On Feb 5, 1922 the unfortun ate in cident of
Chauri-Chaura of U.P. happened. The mob
atta cked the police station and killed 22
Policemen.
The British gover nmen t was furious after
this inciden t and imposed martial law in
the city of Chauri Chaura and surroundin g
areas.
On April 20, 1923 Allahabad high cour t
awar ded death sentence to 19, various ja il
terms including life imprisonment to 2 years
jail to 113 a ccused, and acquitted 38 due
to lack of evidence, whereas 3 accused died
durin g the course of the trial.
Gan dhiji withdraw his non - cooper ation
movement and persuaded the Congress
Wor ki ng Commi tt e e to p as s t h e
Resolution of ending the Civil Disobedience
Movement.
Deputy Collector Rank File
Civil Disobedience movement -1930
In 1930, Gandhiji launched the Civil Disobedience Movement.
In 1929, INC adopted ‘Poorna Swaraj’ (complete independence) as its goal at the Lahore session
of the congress under the Presidentship of Nehru. It also decided for launching a Civil
Disobedience Campaign.
At midnight on 31 December 1929, Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the newly adopted Tricolour Flag
of freedom on the bank of river Ravi.
26 January 1930 was fixed as the first independent day.
The Civil Disobedience Movement was started by
Gandhiji with his famous Dandi March
He started his Salt Satyagraha or the Dandi March on
the morning of 12 March 1930 with a band of 78 volunteers.
It was 385km (240 miles) Journey from Sabarmati
Ashram at Ahmedabad to Dandi on the West Coast. On
April 5, at 6 in the morning Gandhiji and his volunteers
picked up Salt lying on the sea-shore. (Sarojini Naidu, at
this hailed Gandhiji as ‘‘Law breaker’’)
In Tamil Nadu C. Rajagopalachari led a Salt March from
Tiruchirapalli to Vedaranyam on the Tanjore Coast. He
was arrested on 30 April, 1930.
In Malabar, K. Kelappan, the hero of the Guruvayur
Satyagraha, walked from Calicut to Payyannur to break the Salt law.
Gandhiji was arrested on May 5, 1930. After his arrest his place was taken by Abbas Tyabji and
after the arrest of Abbas leadership passed on to Sarojini Naidu.
Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy called the decision of Gandhi as a ‘Kindergarten stage’ of
revolution.
Irwin called Gandhi’s breaking of salt law as a ‘Storm in a tea cup’
‘Salt suddenly became a mysterious word, a word of power’’ These words were spoken by
Nehru on the occassion of Salt Satyagraha.
One notable feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement of Gandhiji was the wide participation
of women.
Darshana Salt Works Satyagraha on 21st May 1930, was led by Sarojini Naidu, Imam Saheb
and Manilal Gandhi.
Gandhi–Irwin Pact refers to a political agreement signed by Mahatma Gandhi and the then
Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin on 5th March 1931. Before this, the viceroy Lord Irwin
announced in October 1929,a vague offer of ‘dominion status’ for India in an unspecified
future and a Round Table Conference to discuss a future constitution. It was signed after
meetings between Gandhi and the Viceroy that spanned over a three week time period. Many
Indian citizens were originally unsatisfied with the conditions of this truce.
Round Table Conferences
The British government organised the First Round Table Conference at London to discuss the
Simon Commission Report.
The first Round Table Conference was from 12 Nov. 1930 to 19 January 1931.
British Prime Minister Ramsay Mac Donald presided over the First Round Table Conference.
The first Round Table Conference was attended by Tej Bahadur Sapru B.R. Ambedkar, Muhammed
Shafi, M.A. Jinnah etc. Gandhiji did not participate in it.
As a result of the Gandhi Irwin pact (1931) Congress decided to stop the Civil Disobedience
Movement.
Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on 5th March 1931.
The Second Round Table Conference started in London on 7 September 1931. It was attended by
107 Indians including Gandhiji.
The Second Round Table Conference was a failure. So the Civil Disobedience movement was
restarted on 3rd January 1932.
The Communal Award was announced on August 16, 1932 by British Prime Minister Ramsay Mac
Donald.
By the Communal Award minority communities were given separate communal electorates.
The Communal Award was opposed by Gandhiji and he decided to go on fast unto death.
The Third and the last Round Table Conference was held between Nov. 17 and December 24, 1932.
The Third Round Table Conference agreed upon certain broad principles for the future constitutional
set up - which were published later as ‘White paper’ (March 1933)
The Poona Pact was signed on 25 September 1932 at Bombay. By this the separate electorate for
depressed classes was abolished.
Harijan upliftment now became Gandhiji’s main concern. He started an All India Anti-Untouchability
League in September 1932 and the weekly Harijan in January 1933. The January 8, 1933 was
observed as ‘‘Temple Entry Day’’.
Only Indian to participate in all the three Round Table conferences was B. R. Ambedkar.
Revolutionaries
Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw bomb on the
Central Legislative Assembly against the passing
of the Public Safety Bill and the Trade Disputes Bill.
Chittagong Armoury Raid was planned by
Suryasen and his associates on 18 April 1930.
Provisional Government of Free India was set up
at Kabul in 1915 by Mahendrapratap and Barkatulla.
Death of Jitin Das, a revolutionary in jail on the
64th day of a hunger strike was in 1929.
Execution of Bhagat Singh Sukh Dev and RajGuru
by the British was on March 23, 1931.
Chandrasekhar Azad died in 1931 in an encounter
with police at Allahabad.
Famous Conspiracy Cases
Case Date Accused
Nasik 1909-10 Vinayak Savarkar
Conspiracy
Alipore 1908 Aurobindo Ghosh
Howrah case 1910 Jatin Mukherjee
Dacca Case 1910 Pulin Das
Delhi case 1915 Amirchand, Awad Bihari
and Bal Mukund
Lahore case 1929 - 30 Bhagat Singh, Raj guru
and Sukhdev
Banaras case 1915 - 16 Sachindranath Sanyal
Kakori case 1925 Rama Prasad Bismil and
Ashfaq
31 members of Communist Party arrested in connection
with the Meerut Conspiracy case (conspiracy
to deprive the king Emperor of his sovereignty
over British India.)
Deputy Collector Rank File
Basic weaknesses of the National Movement during 1885-1905
The early phase of the national movement did an important pioneering work in the fields of
nationalism, but it had some basic weaknesses too.
Firstly, the national movement in its early phase had a narrow social base. It did not penetrate
down to the masses. It was a movement of the few educated people. In fact the Congress leaders in
the early phase wanted first of all to unite the heterogenous Indian society into a nation and then
start a mass movement. This was a wrong approach towards the masses. The masses were assigned
a passive role in the early phase of the national movement against the colonial rule.
Secondly, the Congress leaders in the early phase believed in passing resolutions after
resolution and submitting petitions after petitions. As the Government turned a deaf ear to their
petitions, these leaders became unpopular among the masses. Their talking of loyalty to the British
rule was not liked by the people. They felt that these leaders were stooges of the Government so
they had no sympathy for them and no faith in their programmes and policies. They wanted action
oriented programmes and not mere speeches. As the moderate leaders were not prepared for the
change they could not attract the masses towards them.
1930 April 1, Age of Consent was modified by
raising the marriageable age of girls to 14 years
and of boys to 18 years. This was popularly called
the Sarda Act (originally the bill was introduced
by Harbilas Sarda)
The Redshirt Movement was
launched in North West
Frontier Province by Khan
Abdul Ghaffar Khan,
popularly known as Badusha
khan and Frontier Gandhi, in
support of Indian National
Congress.
Press Emergency Powers Act
becomes Law in 1931.
The Karachi Congress Session 1931 accepted the
Gandhi - Irwin Pact and authorised Gandhiji as
Party’s Sole nominee in the 2nd Round Table
Conference.
Winston Churchill described Gandhiji as a “Half
naked seditious fakir”.
Gurusaday Dutta started the Bratachari
Movement in 1931.
The 3rd Round Table Conference agreed upon
certain broad principles for the future
constitutional setup ; which were published later
as White Paper (March 1933). The Joint select
committee of the British Parliament gave a report
on the basis of the White Paper and it became the
basis of the Govt. of India Act, 1935.
The Communal Award
On 16, August 1932 Prime Minister Ramsay Mac-
Donald announced the Communal Award. It
pr ovi ded separ ate electorates for Muslims,
Sikhs, Christians, Anglo - Indian and Europeans.
The Depressed Classes were assured separate
special con stituencies also. The congr ess
objected it. Gandhiji started a fastin g into death
in the Yervada Jail against the Communal Award.
The Poona Pact
The Poona Pact refers to an agreement between
the Depressed Classes (now referred to as Dalits)
of India led by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and the upper
caste Hindus of India that took place on 24
September 1932 at Yerawada Jail in Pune (now in
Maharashtra), India.
The Poona Pact the Depressed classes rejected
the Communal Award and accepted the Principle
of Reservation of Seats to them in the Centre,
Provincial legislative bodies. Gandhiji withdraw
his fast unto death.
Gandhiji founded the All India Harijan Sevak
Sangh for social reform and education of the
Depressed Class (1932). He started the second
Civil Disobedience Movement. In 1934 Gandhiji
withdrew the Civil Disobedience movement.
The Indian States Protection Act was passed.
Jaya Prakash Narayan initiated to start the
Congress Socialist Party on Oct.21, 1934.
Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was passed.
(The Reserve Bank of India came into existence in
1935).
Diarchy in the Centre i.e, Reserved subjects
controlled by Governor General and his council;
Transferred subjects controlled by Governor
General and Ministers ; A Federal Court with
minimum 3 judges ; with original appellate and
advisory jurisdiction ; abolished the council of
the secretary of state ; An instrument of Accession
to rope the Indian States in the Federation ; some
Provincial legislatures had bi-cameral structure but
others uni cameral. The Act of 1935 was comprised
of 451 clauses with 15 schedules. It had no
preamble and proposed to prescribe the franchise.
Gandhiji took Sevagram Asram at Wardha as his
residence on April 30, 1936 (It was closed on March
1955).
Provincial Autonomy was established on April 1,
1937.
General Elections were held in the winter of 1936-
37. The Congress ministries were formed in 7 out
of 11 Provinces i.e., 5 states - Orissa, Uttar Pradesh,
Government of India Act (1935)
On August 4, 1935 the Govt. of India Act got the Royal assent.
The Governme nt of India Act 1935 was passed during the “Interwar P eriod” an d was the last preind
epen dent constitution of In dia.
The Act was r etrospectively split by th e Gover nment of India (Rep rinting) Act 19 35 into two
separate Acts: The Government of India Act 1935, The Govern ment of Burma Act 1935
The governmen t of India Act 1935 proposed a government based on Federal System.
It ensured complete autonomy.
The main features were ; an All India Federation, Pr ovincial Autonomy, responsibilities with safeguards.
A Bi-cameral Legislature with centre (the Council of States total 260 ie, 156 fr om Br itish India and 104
from th e Indian States and th e House of Assembly total 375 i.e, 250 from British In dia and 125 fr om
Indian States.
First general election as per the Act of 1935 was held in 1937, Congress got the majority.
But all the Congress Ministers resigned in 1939 as a pr otest against Britains decision to dr ag India
in to th e Second World War.
Central Provinces, Bihar and Madras - absolute
majority and in 2 commanded majority (Bombay
and NWFP).
Burma was separated from India in 1937 and made
it a Cram Colony.
The Federal Court of India was created it became
the Supreme Court of India on Jan.26, 1950.
The first National Planning Committee was
constituted due to the influence of Subash
Chandra Bose, the then Congress President. But
its activities were suspended due to the II World
War.
1n1939, the question of British war aims in relation
to India’s stand on self- determination and her
policy against imperialistic aggression, Fascism,
Nazism and infiltration promoted a conflict of
views and ended in the resignation of congress
ministries.
The Congress Working Committee had decided
not to co-operate with Britain in war activities.
Deliverance Day. Mohammad Ali Jinnah observed
Dec. 22, 1939 the day of Congress Ministeries
resignation as Deliverance Day. i.e. a deliverance
from tyranny, oppression and in justice during the
1937-39 congress rule.
In 1939 Subash Chandra Bose resigned the
Presidentship of the Congress Party and started
work on the formation of the Forward Bloc (June
22, 1940).
Deputy Collector Rank File
In 1940, March 13, Udham Singh (Muhamad Singh
Azad) an engineer, shot dead Michael O’Dyer,
who was the governor of Punjab in the days of
the Jallianwala Bhagh in 1919, in Caxton Hall London.
Udham was hanged in London in June 13,
1940 (His ashes were brought to Delhi on July
19, 1974)
The Lahore Session of the Muslim League
adopted the PAKSTAN (Pakisthan) Resolution on
March 23. P- Punjab, A-Afghanistan, K-Kashmir,
S-Sind, TAN- Baluchistan. The League demanded
the partition of India through a Resolution.
August offer (1940)
The famous proclamation made by Lord Linlithgow
on 8 August 1940 is known as August Offer.
This ensured to give dominion status and freedom
to frame constitution based on representative nature.
Lin Lithgow issued from Simla a statement which
made three main points i.e., Expansion of the Viceroys
Executive Council by including Indian representatives,
establishment of a War Advisory Coun-
Cripps Mission 1942
The mission under Stafford Cripps (the Lord
Privy Seal and a member of the British War
Cabinet) arrived in India on Mar ch 22, 1942
to fin d out a political formula for transfer of
power to Indians.
The Japanese and German advances, the
mounting pressure from Chiang Kai Shek,
of (1887-1975) the Kuomintang leader and
Nationalist Ch in a’s head of state and govt.,
and the Am erican P resid en t Fran klin
Delano Roosevelt (1882-194 5) Winsten
Chrurchill sen d Sir Stafford Cripps to India.
The main proposals of the mission was to
grant Domin ion status to India at the end
of the Second World War and setting up of
an interim government to administer the
country in all matters except defence.
Th e Congress and the League rejected the
offer Gandhiji called the Cripps offer ‘‘a Post
Dated Cheque of a Drowning Bank’’. cil comprising representatives of British India and
Princely states. Dominion states the objectives of
Britain for India and a constitution created by the
Indians.
Quit India Movement (1942)
The failure of the Cripps Mission was the major
reason for the beginning of Quit India Movement.
The All India Congress Committee met at Bombay
on August 8, 1942 passed the famous Quit India
resolution.
The Movement began on 9 August 1942.
On the occasion of the Quit India Movement
Gandhiji gave his famous call of ‘Do or Die’.
The term Quit India was coined by an American
Journalist while interviewing Gandhiji.
‘‘Quit India’’, ‘‘Bharat Chodo’’ ‘Do or Die’ these were
the powerful slogans of Quit India Movement.
On 8th August the govt. charged that the congress
was preparing for unlawful, dangerous and
violent activities. On 9th August, the Police arrested
Gandhiji, Kasturba, Sarojini Naidu etc; from
the Birla House, Bombay and was taken to
Agakhan Palace at Poona. In Bombay Congress
Radio broadcasts were made by Usha Mehta and
friends for few months. In Satara a parallel govt.
was setup by Nana Patil. In Tamluk, a national
Govt. was installed.
Muslim Leagues new slogan during the Movement
was ‘‘Divide and Quit’’.
C. Rajagopalachari evolved, in 1944, a formula called
the CR Formula to end the struggle between the
Congress and Muslim League.
Lord Wavell, the then Governor General offered
the famous Wavell plan in 1945 at Shimla.
Mathagini Harza, pet name Gandhi Buri, a 72 year
old widow of Tamluk in Midnapur district bravely
Indian National Army (INA)
Subash Chandra Bose was born at Cuttack in Orissa.
The idea of Indian National Army was first conceived by Mohan
Singh at Malaya, an officer in British Indian Army.
The first division of INA was formed in September 1942 with
Japanese help.
Subash Chandra Bose began to associate with INA by July
1943. The command was handed over by Rash Bihari Bose
To the Indians, Subash Chandra Bose said ‘give me blood I
will give you freedom’.
Subash Chandra Bose set up two INA headquarters at Rangoon
and Singapore.
The women’s regiment called the ‘Rani Jhansi’ regiment was
under Captain Lekshmi Sehgal.
He was the first to address Gandhiji as the ‘Father of the nation’’
in his appeal on the ‘Azad Hind Radio’ at Singapore.
In may 1944 INA captured Mowdok and hoisted the tri-colour
flag on Indian soil.
The Japanese government handed over the Andaman and Nicobar island to him which were
renamed ‘Shaheed and Swaraj’ islands respectively.
The INA troops surrendered before the British army in 1945.
The British Government of India charged INA soldiers of waging war against the king. The
trials were held in the Red Fort in Delhi.
He was unanimously elected President at the Haripura Congress session in 1938 and was reelected
for the second term at the Tripura session in 1939, defeating Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya,
who was supported by Gandhiji.
He resigned the Presidentship of INC in April 1939 and founded All India Forward Block and
the Kisan Sabha.
But in January 1941, he escaped out of India and reached Berlin (Germany) from where he
arrived in Singapore in 1943.
Bose was popularly known as the ‘Netaji’
He was reportedly killed in an air crash over Taipei, Taiwan on August 18, 1945.
A.N. Mukherjee Commission enquired about the mysterious disappearance of Subash Chandra
Bose.
faced the police bullets on Sept. 29, 1942 while
leading a procession in Tamluk during the August
movement and died. (In 1977 her statue was
installed in Calcutta).
Royal Indian Navy Mutiny (1946)
On 18th February 1946, 1,100 naval Ratings of the
Signal School of HMIS Talwar (ship) in Bombay
went on strike against racial discrimination regarding
pay and food.
Deputy Collector Rank File
BC Dutt was arrested for writing ‘Quit India’ on
HMIS Talwar.
On May 6, 1944 Gandhiji was released from Aga
Khan Palace. his last confinement. In all Gandhi
spent 2089 days in Indian Prisons and 249 days in
South African Prisons.
The Raja Gopalachari formula 1944 the veteran
congress leader C. Rajagopalachari, after releasing
the need of unity between the congress and the
league attaining independence evolved a formula,
a tacit acceptance of a separate Pakistan, to certain
extent Gandhiji accepted it.
Gandhi -Jinnah Talks Sept.9, 1944. Based on the
Formula the Gandhi- Jinnah talks were held at
Jinnah’s residence at Malabar Hill, Bombay (9th
Sept. to 27 Sept. 1944). It ended in failure because
Jinnah wanted Pakistan first and independence
later.
On the failure of Gandhi - Jinnah talks the Viceroy
Lord Wavell started negotiation with Indian
Political leaders. He released all political leaders
who were in prison without trial since 1942.
The Simla Conference was a 1945 meeting
between Viceroy Archibald Wavell and the major
political leaders of India at Simla, India. Convened
to agree on and approve the Wavell Plan for
Indian self-government, it reached a potential
agreement for the self-rule of India that provided
separate representation to Muslims and reduced
majority powers for both communities in their
majority regions.
Cabinet Mission (1946)
The British Gover nment h eaded by Attlee of the
Labour Party, appointed a Cabinet Mission con -
sisting of Pethwick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps
and A.V. Alexander.
Th e Mission was headed by Lord Pethwick
Lawrence (Secr etary of State).
Cabinet Mission proposed a federal government
for the whole of India.
Elections to the Constituent As sembly wer e
held under the Cabin et Mission Plan, in 1946.
Cabinet Mission arrived in India in 1946 March 23.
It provided an interim government during the time of Lord Wavell
It also provided for the establishmen t of a Constitutent Assembly to frame a con stitution
On 2 September 1946 an Interim Government h eaded by Nehru came to power.
It was a 12 member Ministry.Three members were Muslims.
Liaqat Ali Khan was the Finance Minister in the Interim Government.
The Muslim League proclaimed ‘Direct Action Day’ on 16 August 1946 with battle cry of Pakistan’,
‘Larke Langa Paki stan’.
The Muslim League proclaimed September 2, 1946 as a ‘Day of Mourning’.
Commun al riots broke out in Naokhali from November 7, 1946 to March 2, 1947 Gandhiji toured in
these 49 villages.
Constituent Assembly: The constituent Assembly started its session on December 9, 1946 in the
Library of the Coun cil Chamber without the participation of the League.
Rajen dra Prasad was elected as th e President of the Con stituent Assembly.
Quaid-i-Azam with members of the Cabinet Mission: Mr.
Alexander (left), Lord Pethic Lawrence and Sir Stafford
Cripps; Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan is on the extreme right
Governor Generals of India
1772-1785 ............................ Warren Hastings
1786 - 1793 ............................. Lord Cornwallis
1793 - 1798 ............................... Sir John Shore
1798 - 1805 .............................. Lord Wellesley
1807- 1813 .................................... Lord Minto
1813 -1823 ............................... Lord Hastings
1823 - 1828 ................................ Lord Amherst
1828 - 1835 .................... Lord William Bentinck
1835 - 1842 .......................Baron Ellenborough
1842 - 1844 .................. William Wilberfore Bird
1844 - 1848 ............................... Lord Hardinge
1848 - 1856 .............................. Lord Dalhousie
1856 - 1858 ................................ Lord Canning
Viceroys of British India
1858 - 1862 ................................ Lord Canning
1862 - 1863 .............................. 8th Earl Elgin I.
1863 .................................... Sir Robert Napier
1863 - 1864 .................... Sir William T. Dension
1864 - 1869 ................................. Earl of Mayo
1872 - .................................. Sir John Strachey
1872 - 1876 ........................ Baron North Brook
1876 - 1880 ................................... Lord Lytton
1880-1884 ..................................... Lord Ripon
1884 -1888 .................................Lord Dufferin
1888-1894 ............................ Lord Lansdowne
1894 -1899 .................................. Lord Elgin II
1899 - 1905 .................................. Lord Curzon
1905 - 1910 .................................Lord Minto II
1910 - 1916 ............................ Lord Hardinge II
1916 - 1921 ............................ Lord Chelmsford
1921 -1926 .................................Lord Reading
1926-1931 ...................................... Lord Irwin
1931 -1936 ............................ Lord Wellington
1936 -1942 ............................. Lord Linlithgow
1942-1947 ....................................Lord Wavell
1947 (March 13 - August 14)
Lord Louis Mounbatten
Governors - Generals of Indian Union
1947 (August 15)
1948 (June 20) ...........Lord Louis Mountbatten
1950 Jan. 25 ....................... C. Rajagopalachari
On June 18, 1946 First Satyagraha Campaign for
Goa’s Liberation from the Portuguese was
launched (on Dec.18, 1961 the Govt. of India took
military action in Goa which resulted in the
liberation of Goa, Daman Diu and Nagar Haveli
from Portugal on Dec. 19).
Direct Action Day August 16, 1946 - on 27 July
Jinnah addressing the All- India Muslim League
Council, attacked the Cabinet Mission Plan in
general and Lord Wavell in Particular. He charged
them with playing into the hands of the Indian
National Congress. Jinnah argued that the Muslim
League must bid good-bye to constitutional
method and prepare for self- defence and self -
preservation resort to Direct Action. The Working
Committee of the League met on 30 July and fixed
16 August 1946 for observing “Direct Action Day”
through out India. As a result “Great Calcutta
Killing” took a toll of 5000 lives with 15,000 injured
and more than one lakh were rendered homeless.
The League Ministry in Bengal led by H.S.
Suhrawardy had declared August 16, a Public
Holiday to help the League.
Interim Govt. headed by Nehru - On Sept.2, in the
tense situation, the viceroy invited Nehru to form
the interim govt. the centre. Jinnah declined
Nehru’s invitation.
“Day of Mourning “ The Muslim League
proclaimed Sept. 2, 1946 as a “Day of Mourning”
(later an 26 October the League joined the Govt.
without giving up the “Direct Action” and
accepting the Cabinet Mission Plan)
Communal riots broke out in Naokhali from
Nov.7, 1946 to March 2, 1947 Gandhiji toured and
stayed in 49 villages.
Constituent Assembly : The Constituent
Assembly started its session on Dec. 9, 1946 in
the Library of the Council chamber. 205 members
attended were seated in separate blocks, province.
The Muslim League representatives and those
from the Indian States abstained. It appointed a
Rules Committee of 15 to frame the rules of
procedure of the Assembly, of the sections and
its committees.Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected
Chairman.
Deputy Collector Rank File
Mountbatten Plan (1947)
Mountbatten arrived in India on March 22, 1947.
Mountbatten became the last Viceroy of India, the
last British Governor General of India and first Governor
General of free India.
Mountbatten drew up two sets of plans. The
British visualised maintenance of the integrity of
the existing provinces that would initially become
independent successor states and their later unity
under an emasculated centre. The Second plan
explained a partition of the provinces of Punjab,
Bengal and Assam into two parts by which two
separate independent Dominions of India and
Pakistan would emerge with its own governor
general.
Nehru and Jinnah reacted sharply on the first plan
and hence a new plan was made by the viceroy
with the help of V.P. Menon, the Reforms Commissioner
in the Govt.
On June 2, after getting consent for his new plan
from Nehru- Jinnah and Baldev Singh, the
viceroy, informed it to the secretary of state for
India.
On June 3 , 1947, the Prime Minister Clement Atlee
announced the Plan in the House of Commons ;
June 3 plan i.e.; Partition of India into India and
Pakistan.
Clement Atlee announced the plan in the House of
Commons on 2 June 1947, hence it came to be
known as 3rd June Plan.
Integration of States
Th e in tegration of princely sta t es was
done by Sardar Patel with the assistance
of V.P. Menon.
By August 1947, all th e 554 states, with
th e exception only of Hyderabad, Kash -
mir an d Junagarh acceded to the Union.
On 26th October, th e Maharaja of Kashmir,
Harisingh signed th e “In strumen t of Accession”
and Sheik Abdulla became the
Prime Minister of the state. Sheik Abdulla
is known as the ‘Lion of Kashmir’.
Th e Nizam of Hyderabad s i gn ed the
agr eemen t t o join th e In di a n Un ion
thr ough police action in 1948.
Work of the demarcation of the boundaries was
done by Radcliff . Hence the line is known as
Radcliff line.
Ratification of Mountbatten Plan - The British
Parliament ratified the Mountbatten plan as the
“Independence of India Act 1947” in July 18, 1947
(It was introduced in British Parliament on July 5)
The dominion of Pakistan was inaugurated in
Karachi on 14th August 1947. India became free on
15th August 1947.
Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly meets on 11
August 1947 and elects Jinnah as President.
14 August 1947. On 14 August India was divided
and Pakistan was created with full independence
and Jinnah as the Governor General.
15 August 1947. India was declared independent
of British rule with New Delhi as Capital. ( a city
which was the seat of 21 dynasties and grave of 17
empires)
A United India : Out of the total of 562 Princely
States in undivided India, 532 were within the new
Independent India. 529 states acceded to Indian
Union except Hyderabad, Junagadh and Kashmir.
Mountbatten was sworn in as the Governor General
of India and Pdt. Jawaharlal Nehru was sworn
in as the first Prime Minister of free India by Lord
Mountbatten.
Mount Batten with Gandhiji
Patel- On August 23, 1947 Vallabhai Patel, ‘the
iron man of India’ and the ‘Bismark of India’ -
was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of India.
B.R. Ambedkar and the Constitution - On
August 29, 1947 a Drafting Committee with
B.R. Ambedkar as chairman was appointed
to prepare a Draft Constitution of India. It submitted
the Drafted matter to the Governor General
on Feb.21, 1948.
It was finalised on Nov. 26, 1949 and it came
into force on Jan.26, 1950 when India became
a Republic. Thus the Constitution process
took a tensure of 2 years 11 months and
18 days.
Kashmir Attack : On Oct. 24, Kashmir was invaded
by Pakistan tribesmen with a view to annex it to
Pakistan. Harisingh the Maharaja of Kashmir
Sought Indian help and signed the instrument of
Accession on Oct. 27, 1947.
Gandhiji’s last fast into death. 78 year old Gandhiji
started his 16th hunger strike of his life on
January 13, 1948 to bring about Communal Peace-
Transfer of power
A fast directed to the conscience of all Hindus
and Muslims in India and Pakistan.
The Father of the Nation - ‘no more’ - On January
30, 1948 Vinayak Nathuram Godse fired three revolver
shots on Gandhiji and he was assassinated.
Martyrs Day - since the assassination of Gandhiji,
January 30 is observed as Martyrs Day.
